Saint Anne Festival with the Votive Lily (Rosciano)

A patronal festival in the Suessola Valley

At the end of July, Rosciano—the only hamlet in the municipality of Santa Maria a Vico in the province of Caserta—becomes the heart of popular devotion in the Suessola Valley for a few days. The Saint Anne Festival is the village's most cherished tradition. Originally a thanksgiving to the Saint for a bountiful harvest, it has been passed down through generations and is now one of the most popular summer events in this corner of Campania, located just under two kilometers from the municipal center and about twelve kilometers from Caserta.

The village has ancient roots: Corte Rosciano is considered one of the first settlements in the Suessola Valley, with black bucchero ceramic fragments dating back to the 4th-5th century BC. Over the centuries, the identity of the Rosciano community has been built around the church of Saint Anne, where the patronal festival serves as a shared annual milestone.

The votive Lily covered in taralli

What makes this festival truly unique is the votive Lily: a wooden pyramidal structure entirely covered in Rosciano taralli, tied to the scaffolding with string. Since the mid-20th century, these taralli have been carried through the streets on this wooden spire as an act of collective offering to the Saint. The raising of the Lily and its journey to the square, accompanied by a brass band and folk groups, remains the most anticipated moment of the entire event.

This is not a performance staged for tourists; it is a community ritual where every family contributes. The arrival of the Lily in the square marks the transition from the liturgical part of the event to the festive program, with music and conviviality continuing late into the night.

The Rosciano tarallo, a traditional product of Campania

The Rosciano tarallo is officially registered as a traditional agri-food product of the Campania Region. It is a circular bread with a smooth, golden surface, measuring 15-18 cm in diameter and 8-10 cm in height, weighing approximately 250-300 grams. Its notched edge gives it the appearance of a crown.

• Dough: soft wheat flour, lard, eggs, effervescent citron soda, pepper, and anise.
• Preparation: long hand-kneading, shaping, and boiling in water.
• Baking: wood-fired oven, traditionally using olive wood bundles.
• Taste: bold and distinctive, with a recognizable note of pepper.

The preparation remains a home-based, highly ritualistic process tied to the festival cycle. During the celebrations, the taralli take center stage in the traditional sale of gifts, locally announced in dialect as tarall c'o pepe.

Procession, music, and traditional games

The program, which spans four to six days depending on the year, alternates between religious rites and public events:

• Rosary and Holy Masses in the church of Saint Anne, featuring the Schola Cantorum of Rosciano;
• Illumination of the village streets;
• Procession of the votive Lily with a brass band;
• Solemn procession of Saint Anne, starting from the historic church and winding through the village and the center of Santa Maria a Vico;
• Concerts in the square featuring folk and neomelodic music: recent editions have hosted artists such as Leo Ferrucci, Nico Desideri, Angelo Famao, the Bottari di Macerata Campania, and the folk group Sangue Roscianese;
• Traditional Rosciano games, food stalls serving taralli, fried pizza, and rustic cuisine;
• Fireworks and pyromusical display to close the festivities.

A committee run entirely by youth

The organization is managed by the Rosciano Festival Committee, composed entirely of young people from the village. For over a decade, they have kept this popular culture alive by blending tradition with a desire for innovation. Local media hailed the 2025 edition as a massive success, drawing crowds from well beyond the village and involving neighboring towns in the valley.

When to go

The festival traditionally falls around July 26, the liturgical feast day of Saint Anne, often extending over a long weekend between late July and the very first days of August. It is an outdoor evening event; it is best to arrive in the late afternoon to enjoy the music and food. The exact calendar is released by the committee a few weeks in advance.